Scalable interactive video systems and methods

Abstract

Present embodiments are directed to a distributed control system of an interactive video system. The distributed control system includes a switched fabric network, which includes an input node implemented to collect scanning data for a participant. The switched fabric network also includes a set of processing nodes implemented to generate a virtual representation for the participant based at least in part on the scanning data for the participant. Further, the switched fabric network includes an output node, which includes an output device implemented to present the virtual representation of the participant in a virtual environment.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A distributed control system of an interactive video system, comprising:
 a switched fabric network interconnecting a plurality of nodes, wherein the switched fabric network comprises:
 an input node of the plurality of nodes, wherein the input node comprises a sensing unit configured to collect scanning data for a participant of the interactive video system; 
 a first set of processing nodes of the plurality of nodes, wherein the first set of processing nodes is configured to generate a virtual representation of the participant based at least in part on the scanning data of the participant, wherein the input node is communicatively coupled to the first set of processing nodes via a first switch of the switched fabric network; and 
 an output node of the plurality of nodes, wherein the output node comprises an output device configured to present the virtual representation of the participant in a virtual environment, wherein the output node is communicatively coupled to the input node via a second switch of the switched fabric network. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The distributed control system of  claim 1 , wherein the switched fabric network is implemented using peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) connectivity. 
     
     
       3. The distributed control system of  claim 1 , wherein the switched fabric network comprises a second set of processing nodes of the plurality of nodes, wherein the second set of processing nodes is configured to determine one or more in-game effects for the participant based at least in part on the scanning data of the participant. 
     
     
       4. The distributed control system of  claim 3 , wherein the output node is configured to update the virtual environment based at least in part on the one or more in-game effects determined by the second set of processing nodes. 
     
     
       5. The distributed control system of  claim 3 , wherein the first set of processing nodes is disposed within a first chassis and the second set of processing nodes is disposed within a second chassis distinct from the first chassis. 
     
     
       6. The distributed control system of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of processing nodes comprises a central processing unit (CPU), a tensor processing unit (TPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a vector processing unit (VPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       7. The distributed control system of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of processing nodes is configured to access the input node via remote direct memory access (RDMA). 
     
     
       8. The distributed control system of  claim 1 , wherein the scanning data comprises a participant model, in-game participant action data, participant identification, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       9. The distributed control system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing unit comprises a depth camera, a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) device, or a combination thereof, and wherein the output device comprises a display device configured to display the virtual environment to the participant. 
     
     
       10. The distributed control system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing unit is configured to collect the scanning data of the participant by measuring outer surfaces of the participant, and wherein the output device is configured to present the virtual representation of the participant by displaying the virtual representation in the virtual environment. 
     
     
       11. A method of operating an interactive video system, comprising:
 collecting, at an input node of a plurality of nodes in a switched fabric network of a distributed control system of the interactive video system, scanning data for a participant of the interactive video system; 
 generating, at a first set of processing nodes of the plurality of nodes, a virtual representation of the participant based at least in part on the scanning data of the participant, wherein the first set of processing nodes is communicatively coupled to the input node via a first switch of the switched fabric network; 
 presenting, using an output node of the plurality of nodes, the virtual representation of the participant in a virtual environment, wherein the output node is communicatively coupled to the input node via a second switch of the switched fabric network; 
 determining, at a second set of processing nodes of the plurality of nodes, a set of in-game effects based at least in part on the scanning data for the participant; and 
 updating, using the output node, the virtual environment based at least in part on the set of in-game effects. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein determining the set of in-game effects based at least in part on the scanning data for the participant comprises:
 identifying, at a first processing node of the second set of processing nodes, an in-game action of the participant based at least in part on the scanning data of the participant; 
 determining, at a second processing node of the second set of processing nodes, an in-game effect corresponding to the in-game action; 
 determining, at a third processing node of the second set of processing nodes, an audio effect corresponding to the in-game effect; 
 determining, at a fourth processing node of the second set of processing nodes, a visual effect corresponding to the in-game effect; and 
 determining, at a fifth processing node of the second set of processing nodes, a physical effect corresponding to the in-game effect. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , comprising:
 collecting, at the input node, additional scanning data for the participant; 
 aggregating, at a third set of processing nodes of the plurality of nodes, the additional scanning data with the scanning data to generate aggregated scanning data for the participant; and 
 generating, at the output node, the virtual representation of the participant based at least in part on the aggregated scanning data of the participant. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , comprising:
 receiving, at the first set of processing nodes, additional scanning data for the participant from a database node of the plurality of nodes; and 
 generating, at the first set of processing nodes, the virtual representation of the participant based at least in part on the scanning data and the additional scanning data for the participant. 
 
     
     
       15. An interactive video system, comprising:
 a distributed control system comprising a switched fabric network interconnecting a plurality of nodes, wherein the plurality of nodes comprises:
 an input node comprising a sensing unit configured to collect scanning data for a participant of the interactive video system; 
 a set of processing nodes communicatively coupled to the input node via the switched fabric network, wherein the set of processing nodes is configured to:
 generate a virtual representation for the participant based at least in part on the scanning data for the participant; and 
 determine a set of in-game effects based on the scanning data for the participant, wherein the scanning data comprises one or more in-game actions for the participant; and 
 
 an output node communicatively coupled to the input node and to the set of processing nodes via the switched fabric network, wherein the output node comprises a set of output devices configured to:
 present the virtual representation of the participant in a virtual environment; and 
 update the virtual environment based at least in part on the set of in-game effects. 
 
 
 
     
     
       16. The interactive video system of  claim 15 , wherein the set of in-game effects comprises a visual effect, a physical effect, an audio effect, or a combination thereof, in the virtual environment. 
     
     
       17. The interactive video system of  claim 15 , wherein the input node comprises an interface panel, wherein the interface panel comprises a plurality of input devices configured to receive input corresponding to the one or more in-game actions from the participant. 
     
     
       18. The interactive video system of  claim 15 , wherein the input node comprises a radio-frequency (RF) sensor, and wherein the scanning data comprises data indicating an identity, a location, or a combination thereof, collected at the RF sensor for the participant. 
     
     
       19. The interactive video system of  claim 15 , wherein the set of processing nodes is communicatively coupled to the input node via a first switch of the switched fabric network, and wherein the output node is communicatively coupled to the input node via a second switch and communicatively coupled to the set of processing nodes via a third switch of the switched fabric network. 
     
     
       20. The interactive video system of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of nodes comprises an additional input node comprising an additional sensing unit configured to collect respective scanning data for each of a plurality of participants of the interactive video system.